U.S.: Unthinkable: What If Roe Is Overturned?

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Unthinkable: What If Roe Is Overturned?

By Susan Buttenwieser | March 21, 2017

Prior to 1973, an estimated 1.2 million women in the U.S. had illegal abortions each year, resulting in 5,000 annual deaths. Legal abortion was available in only 17 states. After the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, deaths from the procedure were almost completely eliminated. Since Donald Trump’s surprise election, the possibility of returning to “back-street” abortions seems closer than ever before. Anti-choice politicians and activists are emboldened, a proliferation of anti-choice legislation has been introduced at the state and federal level—with some passing—and abortion providers and clinics are experiencing increases in harassment.